Citroen Car Reviews

Citroen Overview

Brief History

Citroen was established in 1919 by Andre-Gustave Citroen, a French industrialist. He established the first mass-production of cars outside of the US after being responsible for the mass-production of armaments during the First World War. In 1924 Citroen unveiled the first all-steel car body in Europe, before developing the Traction Avant, which contained a number of revolutionary features.

Citroen faced financial difficulty, and by 1934 filed for bankruptcy. Michelin became the company’s largest shareholder, and following increased sales of the Traction Avant the company was saved. Production ceased during the German occupation of France, however Citroen researchers continued to work in secret, and developed ideas for future models.

In 1955 the hydro-pneumatic self-levelling suspension system was developed, a system that would become synonymous with Citroens of the future, and came to feature on several different models. It maintains a constant ride height above the road, absorbing any rough terrain.

In 1968, Michelin sold 49% of the company to Fiat, and later that year Citroen purchased Maserati. In 1973, due in part to the oil crisis, Citroen was struggling financially, and Fiat sold their 49% steak back to Michelin, and the following year the company was bankrupt. The French government, worried about potential job losses, arranged a merger between Citroen and Peugeot, in which Peugeot purchased 38.2% of the company and became in charge of management, before they took control of 90% in 1976 forming PSA Peugeot Citroen.

Model Range

C-Zero

The C-Zero is an electric 5 door city car. Developed with Mitsubishi, who have their own version, the i-MiEV, the C-Zero offers todays environmentally conscious society a zero emissions alternative for the daily commute. Ideal for getting about town, it has a range of 80 miles.

C1

This small city car, created in a joint venture between PSA Peugeot Citroen and Toyota, the C1 is available as a 3 or 5-door hatchback. It is almost identical to the Peugeot 107 with a little variation from the Toyota Aygo, the other vehicles developed in the project. It’s cheap to both buy and run, making it a very attractive option for younger drivers.

C3

The C3 is a small family car in its second generation. It first appeared in 2002, before being remodelled and updated in 2009. There is a choice of four petrol engines, and three diesels, depending on your performance requirements.

DS3

The DS3 is another small family car offered by Citroen, although slightly smaller than the C3, offered as a 3, rather than 5-door hatchback. It was built to compete with the Mini, Alpha Romeo Mito and similar models. There are a couple of engine choices and it received a 5 star Euro NCAP safety rating in 2011. The DS3 is also offered in a racing model.

Nemo Mutlispace

This small MPV is based on the same platform as the Citroen Nemo van. The platform was a joint venture between PAS Peugeot Citroen, Fiat and a Turkish manufacturer, originally used for the 3rd generation Fiat Fiorino van. It is surprisingly roomy, having enough space for four passengers and luggage, which is unusual for a small car.

Berlingo Multispace

The Berlingo is another small MPV and is very similar to the Peugeot Partner in appearance. First released in 1996, it is now in its second generation, with the new Berlingo being slightly larger than the original. There are 7 seats, with the option to fold down the back two rows, making it ideal for transporting large items, as well as being very family friendly. It offers a lot of space, at an affordable price.

C3 Picasso

The C3 Picasso is an MPV variant of the C3. This small MPV stands out from the crowd with its radical styling, and the fairly box shape of the body allows you to get the most out of its relatively small dimensions.

C4

The C4 is a medium sized family car that was designed to replace the Citroen Xsara. The original 2004 C4 came in a number of body styles, 3 and 5-door hatchback, 4-door saloon and a coupe. Currently the second generation model is only available as a 5-door hatchback. The coupe was discontinued with the DS4 regarded as its replacement, and the C4 Picasso and Grand Picasso were introduced as MPV versions of the model. It received a 5 star Euro NCAP safety rating in 2010.

DS4

The second in the line of the more premium DS line offered by Citroen, this medium sized family car is a variation derived from the C4. It displays more dramatic styling than the C4, but this 5 door hatchback still puts safety first, with a 5 star Euro NCAP rating.

C4 Picasso

The C4 Picasso is available as a 5-seater, or 7-seater in the C4 Grand Picasso variant. Built on the same platform as the C4, both of these spacious MPVs have flexible seating and offer the room required for the family.

C5

The Citroen C5 is a large family car. There are two models available in the new range, the saloon or tourer (estate). It was initially designed and produced to replace the Citroen Xantia and came as a 5-door hatchback, rather than the saloon model. This C5 is another of Citroen’s models to receive the 5 star Euro NCAP safety rating.

DS5

The DS5 is an executive car, and it combines the styling of a hatchback and estate, influenced by a concept car they previously produced. It is based on the same platform as the Peugeot 3008, not the C5 as the name suggests. There a number of petrol and diesel engine choices.

C-Crosser

The C-Crossers name comes from a 4x4 concept car that Citroen produced for a motor show in 2001, that bore the same name. It was developed with the help of Mitsubishi and went on sale in 2007. This large 4x4 has three rows of seats, two of which can be folded away to make space for extra luggage if the need arises.

C6

The Citroen C6 is a large family car. Inspired by a 1999 prototype it went into production in 2005. The company are trying to market this car as an alternative to other executive cars such as the BMW 5 series. It is considered different in the rest of the cars in its class with a refreshingly different design. There is only a 3.0 litre diesel available to power this 4 door saloon.